Toy gun



F. T. RUSSELL TOY GUN ,July 7, l1931.

Filed April 711, 1950 .IIlIII mw/mm. ifm M www@ Patented July 7, 1931ritenne-Ice: "eussent, or

PATENT err-ice erica, Yoan, assjre'Nc'R, BY IAssrc-NMa-Nfrs,

:To FOX COMPANY, or fi'rirrifinnnrrrra, PENNSYLVNIA, 'A CQRPORTIONOFPENN- "SYLVANIA application flied *Ap'ii '11,

A This-invention relatesto toy guns and more particularly to those'gunsin which a relatively light ball is projected out of the barrel ofthei-gui'i and 5to-ward a Inarl'by the impact I of 'a "spring-impelledplunger.

The object ofthe present invention 'is to provide'a. toy gun which isoutward appearance closely resembles areal rifle, that-is to say, 'alire'a'rm, although the frame, barrel lli and trigger Aguard of thepresent invention are stamped and :formed from a single integral'pieceof sheet metal.

'A further 'object of my'invention is'to'prov vide aftoy rifle in 'whicha ball `may be vinlf" serted throughV an openingin the wall of thebarrel into a chamber yprovided in the barrel where'the said ball'isretained until the gun is cocked, and to providea structure wherein whenthe gun is cocked,'theball drops gravil,ationally 'into a position inwhich it is in alinement with and in 'advance of a strikep'in wherebythe impact of the said strikepiiron said ballupon the release ofaspring- D impel led plunger projects the ball out offthe chamber andthrough the barrel in the'direction oftliemarlr or target aimed at.

Further objects of my invention 'are to provide simple -mean's forrigidly securing'an impact block anda ball'receiving block in the barrel'against displacement; 'for 'maintaining the major vportion ofthe`plunger rod in substantial alinement with the axis of 4the barrel; andto-.provide the rear vend of the rod with integral bentportionstocooperate with stationary spring abutment and a slot through the frameto prevent a rotation'of the plunger lwithin the barrela'nd'to preventundue'motion 'of the grip towardand 'away from the frameor about theaxis ofthe plunger'rod.

A further object of my invention 'is/to make apfaithful miniaturemodel'of a Vreal rifle, of few parts, which are easily assembled 'atalow cost, durable and not-subjected'to any particular wear.

Other ob'ects of 'this invention will appear Ain the'specication andclaims below. Y Referring to the drawings forming 'a part of thisspecification` and in which the same -neference characters are employedjthrough-,

1930. ,serial No. 443,279.

out the various views to designate the same parts, f

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of'a toy rifleembodying my invention, with 4the operative parts of the gun shown inthe cocked position.

Fig. '2 is a similar view showing the relative position of the Apartsafter the gun has been red.

Fig. 3 isa. transverse vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are vertical transverse sections of Fig. 1,takenon the lines 4 4, 5 5, 6 6, 7 7 and 8 8-respectively, on a scalelarger than that of Figs. 1,2 and 3. A Briefly, the :barrel 1, the frame2 andthe trigger-guard 3 are'made out` of one sheet'of metal stampingfrom which flanges 2, 2a of the frame are struck or turned up around theside walls 2b, 2b ofthe frame 2, and the flanges 3a, 3a are struck upfrom the sides of the trigger-guard 3, all of said flanges being of sucha height that when the part of the blank which forms the top 2c of theV'finished frame r2 vis bent'into substantially semicylindrical form andthe portions of the blank which form the barrel 1 are also bent intocylindrical form, with the side walls 2" of the frame-parallel, theflanges 2a, 2a project toward each other from oppositesides of .theframeand abut against each other and the flanges 3, 3a will also respectivelyabut against each other to close the bottom of the frame 2 and tovprovide a sturdy triggerguardB of substantially rectangular 'shape intransverse cross-section. After having been bent'int'o the'shape shownin Fig. 3, it is then onlynecessary to spot-weld the flanges 2atogether'asat the spot-weld 1 and to solder or spot-weld the abuttingedges on the underside of the barrel at'a single point, preferablyfbya'spot-Weld 5 at the ypoint where the barrel Yis provided with a,circumferential groove 6 which forms a rigid integral shoulder7' on theinsidee of the barrel against which the forward end of the impact block8 firmly abuts. f

The portion of the barrel tothe rear of the "impact block A8 and betweenit ,and the forward end of the stationary rear-abutment lll.)

9, provides a chamber 10 in which is mounted a piston or plunger 11having a plunger rod 12 rigidly attached thereto, she maj or portion 12aof which is straightk and extends into the rear abutment 9 when thepiston or plunger 11 is in engagement with the impact block 8.Surrounding the straight portion 12a on the plunger rod is a coiledcompression spring 13, the rear end of which is seated against theforward end of the said abutment 9 and the forward end of which'surrounds and fits a projection 11a forming the rear end of the pistonor plunger 11.

The rear abutment 9 preferably comprises a cylindrical wooden rodprovided with a relatively deep channel extending the full length of therod, radially disposed and extending :from the surface of the rod to apoint beyond the axis of the rod. The plunger rod 12 slidingly fitsbetween the vertical sides of the slot or channel 91.V The forward endof said abutment 9 preferably fits into and is supported by the rear endof the cylindrical barrel 1` and the rear end ofthe abutment 9 is seatedsquarely against the forward end of the stock 14 which preferably tele-Y scopically fits into the open rear endV of the frame 1 and is rigidlysecured therein by bolts or rivets 15, 15.V Y Y Y The forward end of thestock 14 prefl erably provided with a staple 16 or any other suitablefiat projection which will fit into the slot'9a and will hold the' rearend of the abutmentr9 firmly against the inside of the top 2c of theframe and will also maintain the slot 9'CL vertical and openingdownwardly.

The rear end of the straight portion 12aof the plunger rod terminates ina substantially vertical portion 12,h which extends out of the slot to apoint below the abutment and the section or portion 12b terminates inanother section 12c which is preferably straight and extendshorizontally normal to the plane of the side 2b of the frame 2 and outVthroughV a slot 17 in the side 2b of the frame. Said slot 17 extendslongitudinally parallel'to the axis of the barrel 2, but its lowerend'forms a support or rest on which vsaid horizontal portion orextension 12,c may freely slide. The outer end of the section 12cterminates in a handle section 12d vprovided with a knob or grip 18 byImeans of which one drawing backwardly or rearwardly on the grip 18,retracts the plungerll against theY tension of the coiled propulsionspring 13. 1

lVithin the frame 2 is a trigger 19 mounted to turn on a pivot pin 20,said trigger being provided with a detent 21 which, under the expansivetension of the trigger spring 22, normally lies against the cylindricalsurface of the abutment in the path of the' movement of the portion 12con the plunger rod when the latter nears the rearward limit of itsmotion. Y When the grip 18 is drawn rearwardly the transverse horizontalsection or portion 12c of the plunger rod engages the the spring 22forces the detent upwardly to i' retain the plunger rod and plungerattached thereto in their rearmost position against the fo-rce of thecompressed propulsion spring 13.

To fire the gun, itis only necessary to pull the trigger 19, thusreleasing the p-lunger rod from its engagement with theV detent,whereupon the spring 13 impels the piston or plungerV 11 and the plungerro`d12 attached thereto, forwardly at a high speed until the plungerengages the rear face of the impact block 8.

The iianges12a 2a of the frame 2 are recessed or cut away between thepoints where the trigger-guard joins the frame to provide a slot 23 toguide the projecting end of the trigger 19 in a straight path and toposition the trigger on its pivot pin 20.

The forward end of the stock 14 is preferably providedwitha recess 24 inwhich is seated the trigger lring 22, theforward end of which surroundsa suitable projection 19a on the trigger. Any forward movement of thetrigger substantially beyond the position shown in Fig. 2 isp-reve-ntedby the engagen ment of the detent 21 with the cylindricalsurface of the wooden abutment 9 at one side of the slot or channel 9a.r

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be' observed that substantially all of thetrigger within the frame is offset to a point substantially midwaybetwen the ends o-f the horizontal section 12C of the plunger rod andafter only the lower end of the trigger is vertically below the axis ofthe barrel or midway the sides of the trigger-guard to extend throughthe slot 23.

The imlpact block 8 is preferably made of hard wood, firmly satedaga-inst the shoulder 7 and is preferably retained in position by theextensions 25 in the metal of the barrel 1 extending into the wodoenimpact block 8, as is clearly shownin Fig. 6. Within the impact block 8is also slidably mounted theV strike-pin 26 in a hole 27 in the impactblock 8 and a hole 28 in a head or washer` 29 secured to the rear end ofthe impact block 'in any suit- N able manner, asv by the integral'tangs30. Between the hole 27 and the head 29 is provided a chamber 31 intheimpact block and within the chamber the strike-pin is provided with aflange or shoulder 32 between which and the hole 27 is a light spring 33under compressive tension and surrounding the strike-pin 26 in itsrearmost position with its forward end projecting rearwardly of the heador washer 29 and into the path of the reciprocation of the plunger 12.

In advance of the extension 6 and tightly fitting within the barrel 1,is the ball receiver 34 preferably comprising a cylindrical wooden plugor body provided with ara;

dially disposed circular passage of adiameter ,slightly larger than thatof lthe proiectilc Orball 36,- The upper end Of'this passage preferablyrechters with 'a YSimilar circular opening 37 threugh the top of thebarrel, 'It is through lthisopening that the projectiles o-r balls areinserted into the gun.. u

Thfball receiver 34 is also preferably provided with a shortaxial borecoaxial with the barrel and formed through ahead orprojeo tion 39 on'the forward end ofthe body. lTo the rear o'f this ,head for shoulder89, is a shallow annular groove 40 surrounding the 5 body immediately inAthe rear .of said head and in which is tightly wrapped and secured a(light vspring Wire il having a free end lla brought 'forwardly @Ver theedge 0f thehead 3.9 and ,bent .downwardly against the Outer o surface.0f said heeflenl arOSS en edge 0f the opening 38, said resilient end41a being i Operative 'to prevent a 'bell inserted fitOSed radial holeor passage r35 and sea-ted ,in said here ,38 l,from rolling forwardlygravitation- I alla# 'The hall receiver 3ft is preferably securely heldwithin-the 'barrel against rotative movement aboutv its .axis byindentations 42 thlOilgh the metal `of the barrel and into o the ,outercylindrical surface of the wooden body or "block Iforming theballrreceiver 34.

'The yforward endo'f'the strike-pin 26 is'free to reciprocate through anopening 43 in the rear Wall 84a .of the 'ball receverijn @Enculenttherewith, sothat no particular care has to be exercised in fitting andsecuring the impact bleek and the 'ball receiver in Yplace within thebarrel except to see to it Athat the'radial passage 35 in the ballreceiver in axial alinerl'lcnt with `the hole 37 .in the barrel.

When the plunger 12 4is retrapted, as shown in Fig. l and thestrike-pin'26 is in its rearmost position, having been moved over by thetension of the light spring 35, the forward end of the strike-pin issubstantially llush with the forward surface of the rear wall 34a of theball receiver 34. But when the gun is fired and the plunger 12 comes torest on the rear end of the impact block 8, the forward end of thestrike-pin extends clear across the radial passage 35 and a ballinserted thereinto through the opening 37 will seat on the upper side ofthe strike-pin 26. lVhen, however, the plunger is being retracted, thestrike-pin 26 will follow the plunger until the flange or shoulder 32strikes upon the forward surface of the metal head or washer 29 where itwill come to rest, and in so moving rearwardly the forward end of thestrike-pin will move out from under any ball resting thereon and willpermit, when the strike-pin has reached its rearmost position, the ballor projectile 36 to be seated in the bore 38 on the ball receiver.

When, therefore, the plunger is released and 'drives the strikeepinforwardly, the forward endy of the strike-pin -impingingagainst the ballvor fpreljectile '36, will 'force the ball over'thc "light Vresilientend 41a of the wire spring El and out through the barrel ltoward themarkaimed at.

For the purpose of enabling one to sight the Agun ata given object, -theforward end'of the gun maybe provided with an youtwardly expressedprojection lto form a forward sight 44 and the rear end of the frame maybe provided with a strucleup alined rearsight 45 provided with a.circular'openingfla through which the forward'sight may bel readilyseen andthe lgun aimed in the desi-red direction.

The invention above described, greatly simplifies the construction ofthe impact block and ball receiver, si-nce lthe strike-pin is mounted inthe impact block coaxial with the aXis of the barrel with the aXisofftheimpact block and with the axis of theball lreceiver.r

*T he impact block with the strike-pin mountedtherein, is aunitconstruction which may be bodily placed in the ,barreland thereretained stationari'ly with respect'to the barrel, lthere ibeing 'no'force operative to'move the impact block 8 forwardly from .its seat andanyrotative movement which may be imparted tothe impact blockdue to therepeated blows impressed upon it by *the plunger, do not interfere inthe slightest with 'the operation of the device, because of the coaxialarrangement of the parts with respect 'to each other. I

The 1ball receiver may also'be made-ofsimple construction of shortlength 'and lof vsimple construction, comprising as it does ybut a shortcylindrical plug having an aerial bore and a Aradial passagecommunicating lt-herewith, both of a diameter but slightly largerthanthat of the projectile to be placed in the receiver.

Having thus described my invention, 'what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. ina ytoy gungthe combination of a frame and a barrel integral with'each other and of sheet metal, said barrel @being provided with acircumferential annular inwardly indented groove intermediate the endsof said barrel to form a rigid shoulder within the bore of said barrel,spring-impclled, trigger-controlled impact `plunger reciprocable withinsaid barrel to the rear of said shoulder, an impact block fitting saidbore in the rear of and seated against YVsaid shoulder, alongitudinallyreciprocablestrike-pinmountedinsaid impact member, and valight lspring also mounted in said'impact member'and normallyyield-ingly lholding said strike-pin in Aits rearmost Aposition with therear endofsaidstrikepin projecting into the path .on the forwardmovement Yof said plunger, and .a ball retainer fitting said ,herecfsaidbarnel and ixedly poyliti groove, intermediate the ends of saidbarrel,

to form a rigid shoulder ywithin the bore of said barrel, an impactblock fitting said bore and in the rear of and seated against saidshoulder, said impact block housing a longitudinally reciprocalolelstrike-pin and means for normally yieldingly holding said strikepin inits rearmost position with yan end projecting-rearwardly from saidimpact block, a spring-impelled, trigger-controlled impact .plungerwithinvsaid.barrelandin the rear of said impact block, theforwardmovement of which plunger is-limited by said impact block, astrong propulsion spring in the rear of said plunger, the tension ofwhich normally holds-said plunger squarely against said impactblock,a-ball retainer fitting said barrel and rigidly secured therein againstlongitudinal movement and having a passagetherein in lalinem'ent withsaid strikepin anda lateral passage:communicating therewith through thewall .of said barrel for the insertion of projectiles 'into said ballretainer, means to yieldinglyhold a ball yin said passage, the forwardend of said strikepin being in the rear of a projectile in said passagewhen the'strike-pin is inits rearmostposition and operative to drivesaid ball from said passage upon the movement of said strike-pin toitsforward position under the impact of said plunger, y

3. In a toy gun, the combination of a frame and a barrel integral witheach other and composed of sheet material, said barrel, being providedwith a circumferential annularindented groove intermediate the ends ofsaid barrel to form a rigid shoulder within the bore of said barrel, animpact block fitting said bore and seated against the rear side of saidshoulder, a spring-impelled, triggerthe wall of said barrel for theinsertion of balls into said bore, yielding means secured to the forwardend of said ball retainer and lying across the outer end of said bore tovprevent a ball in said bore from rolling gravitationally outof the endof said barrel, the v ceiver and of said barrel.v

4. lnV a toy gun,lthe combination of a frame, va barrel rigidly securedthereto and an impact block rigidly mounted in said barrel, aspring-impelled ytrigger-controlled impact plunger reciprocable withinsaid barrel to therear of said impact block, said impact block housing alongitudinally reciprocable strike-pin, a light v spring also mounted insaid impact block and normally yieldingly holding said strike-,pinprojecting into the path of the forward movement of said plunger andaball retainer Xedly mounted in the bore of saidbarrel and forward ofsaid impact block and adjacent thereto, said ball retainer beingprovided with means for. holding a ball in alignment vwith the forwardend of said strike-pin when said strike-pin Vis in its rearmostposition, said strike-pin being operative to impinge against said .balland impel it out of said barrel upon the movement of the strike-pin toits forward position under the yimpact of said plunger. Y j .j

ln ,witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of March,1930.

FREDERICK T. RUSSELL.

controlled plunger reciprocable within said Y barrel inthe rear of saidimpact block, a propulsion spring operative to drive said plungeragainstsaid impact block, a longitudinally reciprocable strike-pinmounted in said impact'block substantially coaxial with l said barrel,means mounted in said impact bloclrand normally yieldingly holding saidstrike-pin in its rearmost position with its rear end projecting intothe path of the movements of said plunger, a ball retainer mounted insaid barrel and provided with a short bore' coaxial with said barrel andsaid strike-pin, with a transverse bore and a transverse passage at therearend thereof'through Y j I

